St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-19
THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS.
Neither Branch Likely to Take
ANY Important Action.

WASHINGTON, Dec 1S.-There is no
joint purpose on the part of senators
either TO do or to abstain from doing any
given thing during the coming week,
unless. indeed, the unanimity of opin-
ion in favor of beginning the holiday
recess on Thursday or earlier be ac-
counted purpose. The senate calen-
dar contains only three bills which can
be taken up for action. One of them
provides for refunding to the states the
direct tax of 1861, and the other two re-
late to ports of entry in Oregon and
Washington territory. \ dozen meas
ureS lie on the table. some of which will
doubtless be called up during the
week by their originatOrS as texts for
set speeches, and will then be referred
to the proper committees. Among them
are the civil service resolution of Mr..
Hale; the postal telegraph resolution of
Mr.. Beck; the constitutional amend
ment proposed by Mr.. DOlph, empower
ing congress to legislate upon marriage,
divorce. pOlygamy, etc: the bill intro
duced by Mr.. Plumb, providing for the
erection of public buildings for post
offices; Mr.. Mitchell's bill to abrOgate
all treaties and repeal all laws which
permit the immigration of Chinese: Mr..
Palmer's bill to regulate immigration.
and the two postal telegraph bills Of
fered by Mr.. EdmundS and Mr.. Cullom
respectively. The Butler resolution to
form a special postal telegraph commit
tee lies on the table, under a motion to
reconsider, which will probably be
taken up and disposed of tomorrow. or
at least before the holiday recess. The
matters of greatest general interest be-
ff,rn ha fa in
THE CABINET NOMINATIONS,
and these seem to be awaiting the mo-
ton of the judiciary committee. to
which the nominations of MeSSrS. La
mar and Villas were sent. The commit
tee has held no meeting thus far. and
none has yet been called for tomorrow.
though Monday has for many years
been its regular meeting day. The be-
lief is general among senators that no
action will he taken upon these nomi-
nations until after the holiday recess.
The nomination of Secretary Fairchild
has already been reported from the
finance committee, and that of
Mr.. Dickinson is ready to be
reported from the post0flice COM
mittee. Should the senate see fit to
confirm the nomination of MIR. Dickin-
son before it acts upon those of MeSsrs.
Lamar and Villas. the president will
doubtless withhold the commission until
such action is taken. The total number
of nominations before the senate is 429.
not more than a dozen of which have
vet been reported back from commit
tees. The subcommittee of finance.
which has for more than year been
studying the subject of fraudulent un-
deTvaluti0ns, has perfected an elaborate
bill of twenty-four printed pages, which
tomorrow morning, and probably be re-
ported TO the senate during the day.
The few days in which
THE HOUSE
will be in session the coming week will
in all probability be devoted to the dis
cuSsion of the rules which are to govern
the proceedings of the house for the
present congress. The committee on
rules, which, il is learned on authority,
will be the only important committee
appointed before the recess, Will be an
nOuGced tomorrow, and an early adj
jOurnment will be had in order to en-
able that committee TO formally organize
and proceed speedily to the considera-
ton of the proposed change of rules,
which have already been referred to it,
Mr.. TOwushend, of Illinois, may call up
for action his resolution setting apart
day fer the introduction of bills for
reference. but il is not likely that it will
receive favorable action until the com
mittee on rules shall have passed iudg-
ment upon the proposition that private
bills shall be presented through the pc
titiOn box and not in open house. In
view of the propriety of having code
of rules to guide the house, framed be-
fore the holiday recess, the committee
on rules will endeavor to submit its re-
port on Tuesday or Wednesday. thus
making it possible for the house to con-